TweetFollow Us on Twitter

Sep 94 Tips
Volume Number:10
Issue Number:9
Column Tag:Tips &TidBits

Tips &TidBits

By Scott T Boyd, Editor

Tip Of The Month

EveryTime Macro in MacsBug

When your application gets closer to its final version and reaches other people than yourself, wouldn’t it be nice if there was a logging function, which could add a stack dump to a log file, if the application should crash?

There is an easy way to do this, and it requires no change to your code. MacsBug has the this facility among several others, and these features can be set up for easy use.

• Open up your Debugger Prefs file with your favorite resource editor

• Add a new 'mxbm' resource to define a macro.

• Name the macro “EveryTime” (that’s one word, no spaces)

• Define the macro as "log crash.log;how;td;sc;ip;hc;log;es;"

• Save the file.

The macro opens a log file named crash.log, gets MacsBug to tell what happened to cause the debugger to catch an exception, dump all the registers, do a stack crawl, disassemble around the PC, check the heap’s validity, turn off the log file, and ExitToShell.

You now have a Debugger Prefs file which will create a crash log whenever the machine winds up in MacsBug. MacsBug will execute a macro named “EveryTime” every time you enter MacsBug. You probably don’t want to use this particular definition on your development machine(s).

Now you can install MacsBug and its Debugger Prefs file on your beta tester’s machines. Every time they drop into MacsBug (because of some as-yet-undetermined bug in your software), Macsbug creates a logfile with the name bomb.log. The log file will contain information which could be useful, especially if it is one of the crashes which is not so easy to reproduce when you try yourself.

- Henrik Dalgaard

Frederiksssund, Denmark

Got a developer tip you’ve been keeping to yourself but really need to share? Think you have a better trick up your sleeve? Send us your tips and tricks, especially programming-related tips, but don’t hold back if you’ve got programmer’s user tips.

We want your tips! We pay $25 for every tip used, and $50 for Tip of the Month. You can take your award in orders or subscriptions if you prefer.

Make sure code compiles, and send tips by e-mail. See page two for our addresses.

Team Development Tools

Excel Software has enhanced its MacAnalyst and MacDesigner suite of CASE tools to facilitate team development. Teams can now have multi-user, read-write access to data dictionary and requirement documents for software development projects. The tools provide a history of what’s been done by other team members, and which documents they’ve been working on.

Team Dictionary and Team Requirement documents allow each user to concurrently add, modify, or delete information in the shared document. Special attention was paid to speed, and the use of a cooperative client model avoided the need for a separate server.

MacAnalyst and MacDesigner site licenses start at $2985, and go up to $14975 based on product options. Single license products start at $995. Onsite training and update services are available. For more info, contact Harold Halbleib at Excel Software, POBox 1414, Marshalltown, IA 50158. (515) 752-5359 voice, (515) 752-2435 fax, AppleLink CASE.

Cross-Platform Document Libraries

PAIGE, from DataPak software, offers a cross-platform library for developers who want to incorporate text editing, page layout, or multimedia into their applications. Anything can be embedded into a traditional “text” stream, even if it isn’t text at all - pictures, arbitrary objects, buttons, hypertext links. It can also handle straight stylized text of virtually any length, all of which can be enclosed inside or outside non-rectangular shapes.

The libraries support scaling, so you can see and edit, even at print resolution. Formatting includes kerning, hidden text, and variable tab stops. They offer WorldScript II compatibility, mail-merge support, variable line spacing, style-sheet support, and virtual memory and file I/O support. They support discontinuous selections, multiple-level undo, and claim that their code is tight and fast.

The code is broken into multiple libraries, so you can link only with the features you need. For even more features, contact DataPak.

PAIGE is sold royalty free, and there are no distribution fees. Licensing covers use of the product for one application and one developer. Additional seats are available. Per platform $3,500. Each additional “Seat” $250. Source code is available $25,000, each additional seat $250. Site licenses are also available. Contact DataPak at 9317 NEHighway 99, Suite G, Vancouver, WA 98665-8900. (206) 573-9155 voice, (206) 573-9269 fax, (800) 327-6703 sales. AppleLink D0142, Internet datapak1@aol.com, CompuServe 76424,3027, and AOLDatapak1.

 

Community Search:
MacTech Search:

Software Updates via MacUpdate

Latest Forum Discussions

See All

Top Mobile Game Discounts
Every day, we pick out a curated list of the best mobile discounts on the App Store and post them here. This list won't be comprehensive, but it every game on it is recommended. Feel free to check out the coverage we did on them in the links... | Read more »
Price of Glory unleashes its 1.4 Alpha u...
As much as we all probably dislike Maths as a subject, we do have to hand it to geometry for giving us the good old Hexgrid, home of some of the best strategy games. One such example, Price of Glory, has dropped its 1.4 Alpha update, stocked full... | Read more »
The SLC 2025 kicks off this month to cro...
Ever since the Solo Leveling: Arise Championship 2025 was announced, I have been looking forward to it. The promotional clip they released a month or two back showed crowds going absolutely nuts for the previous competitions, so imagine the... | Read more »
Dive into some early Magicpunk fun as Cr...
Excellent news for fans of steampunk and magic; the Precursor Test for Magicpunk MMORPG Crystal of Atlan opens today. This rather fancy way of saying beta test will remain open until March 5th and is available for PC - boo - and Android devices -... | Read more »
Prepare to get your mind melted as Evang...
If you are a fan of sci-fi shooters and incredibly weird, mind-bending anime series, then you are in for a treat, as Goddess of Victory: Nikke is gearing up for its second collaboration with Evangelion. We were also treated to an upcoming... | Read more »
Square Enix gives with one hand and slap...
We have something of a mixed bag coming over from Square Enix HQ today. Two of their mobile games are revelling in life with new events keeping them alive, whilst another has been thrown onto the ever-growing discard pile Square is building. I... | Read more »
Let the world burn as you have some fest...
It is time to leave the world burning once again as you take a much-needed break from that whole “hero” lark and enjoy some celebrations in Genshin Impact. Version 5.4, Moonlight Amidst Dreams, will see you in Inazuma to attend the Mikawa Flower... | Read more »
Full Moon Over the Abyssal Sea lands on...
Aether Gazer has announced its latest major update, and it is one of the loveliest event names I have ever heard. Full Moon Over the Abyssal Sea is an amazing name, and it comes loaded with two side stories, a new S-grade Modifier, and some fancy... | Read more »
Open your own eatery for all the forest...
Very important question; when you read the title Zoo Restaurant, do you also immediately think of running a restaurant in which you cook Zoo animals as the course? I will just assume yes. Anyway, come June 23rd we will all be able to start up our... | Read more »
Crystal of Atlan opens registration for...
Nuverse was prominently featured in the last month for all the wrong reasons with the USA TikTok debacle, but now it is putting all that behind it and preparing for the Crystal of Atlan beta test. Taking place between February 18th and March 5th,... | Read more »

Price Scanner via MacPrices.net

AT&T is offering a 65% discount on the ne...
AT&T is offering the new iPhone 16e for up to 65% off their monthly finance fee with 36-months of service. No trade-in is required. Discount is applied via monthly bill credits over the 36 month... Read more
Use this code to get a free iPhone 13 at Visi...
For a limited time, use code SWEETDEAL to get a free 128GB iPhone 13 Visible, Verizon’s low-cost wireless cell service, Visible. Deal is valid when you purchase the Visible+ annual plan. Free... Read more
M4 Mac minis on sale for $50-$80 off MSRP at...
B&H Photo has M4 Mac minis in stock and on sale right now for $50 to $80 off Apple’s MSRP, each including free 1-2 day shipping to most US addresses: – M4 Mac mini (16GB/256GB): $549, $50 off... Read more
Buy an iPhone 16 at Boost Mobile and get one...
Boost Mobile, an MVNO using AT&T and T-Mobile’s networks, is offering one year of free Unlimited service with the purchase of any iPhone 16. Purchase the iPhone at standard MSRP, and then choose... Read more
Get an iPhone 15 for only $299 at Boost Mobil...
Boost Mobile, an MVNO using AT&T and T-Mobile’s networks, is offering the 128GB iPhone 15 for $299.99 including service with their Unlimited Premium plan (50GB of premium data, $60/month), or $20... Read more
Unreal Mobile is offering $100 off any new iP...
Unreal Mobile, an MVNO using AT&T and T-Mobile’s networks, is offering a $100 discount on any new iPhone with service. This includes new iPhone 16 models as well as iPhone 15, 14, 13, and SE... Read more
Apple drops prices on clearance iPhone 14 mod...
With today’s introduction of the new iPhone 16e, Apple has discontinued the iPhone 14, 14 Pro, and SE. In response, Apple has dropped prices on unlocked, Certified Refurbished, iPhone 14 models to a... Read more
B&H has 16-inch M4 Max MacBook Pros on sa...
B&H Photo is offering a $360-$410 discount on new 16-inch MacBook Pros with M4 Max CPUs right now. B&H offers free 1-2 day shipping to most US addresses: – 16″ M4 Max MacBook Pro (36GB/1TB/... Read more
Amazon is offering a $100 discount on the M4...
Amazon has the M4 Pro Mac mini discounted $100 off MSRP right now. Shipping is free. Their price is the lowest currently available for this popular mini: – Mac mini M4 Pro (24GB/512GB): $1299, $100... Read more
B&H continues to offer $150-$220 discount...
B&H Photo has 14-inch M4 MacBook Pros on sale for $150-$220 off MSRP. B&H offers free 1-2 day shipping to most US addresses: – 14″ M4 MacBook Pro (16GB/512GB): $1449, $150 off MSRP – 14″ M4... Read more

Jobs Board

All contents are Copyright 1984-2011 by Xplain Corporation. All rights reserved. Theme designed by Icreon.